Renowned Cultural Director of Shaw Festivals and the Founder of Slaight Family Academy Left The World at 85!
Image Credit: CBC
The prominent and established artistic director Christopher Newton said goodbye to the mortal world at the age of 85.
The news of his death was ascertained and declared by his colleagues and crew members of the festival Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
Newton has worked as a cultural director from 1979 to 2002.
Play writer Bernard Shaw inspired him, so he added noticeable and exhilarating innovations to the show.
Newton established the Slaight Family Academy. The major objective of the inauguration of this academy was to train the artists so that they could perform exceptionally well in their field of interest shortly.
You May Also Like: Chrishell Stause and Jason Oppenheim of ‘Selling Sunset’ Open up About Their Break Up – Says ‘We Are Still Best Friends’
Organizers of the Shaw Festival moved to their official Twitter account, shared a heartfelt note for him, and paid tribute to him for the countless support and compassion he had depicted to change the course of Canadian Art and theatre.
Organizers penned down on their Twitter account,
‘Mr. Newton made a momentous impact and life-long contributions to the Canadian theatre landscape and performing arts. In addition to an abundance of acting, directing credits, and artistic director postings, he served as the Shaw Festival’s artistic director from 1979 until 2002.’
Mr. Newton made a momentous impact and life-long contributions to the Canadian theatre landscape and performing arts. In addition to an abundance of acting, directing credits and artistic director postings, he served as the Shaw Festival’s artistic director from 1979 until 2002.
— Shaw Festival (@ShawTheatre) December 20, 2021
The artistic director and a close companion of Newton asserted in a media encounter,
’It is no exaggeration to say that, without Christopher Newton, there would be no Shaw Festival today. He set a very high standard in everything he did, and long after his retirement as artistic director in 2002, he continued to be a passionate supporter of the festival and the arts.’
Christopher Newton entered the world of acting with plays like Canadian Players, Manitoba Theatre Centre. He then shifted his attention to the stage performances in festivals like Shaw and Stratford.
He became incredibly popular among his counterparts and the audience for his deadpan delivery and unrealistic skills.
In his career as a director from 1979 to 2002, he directed plays like ‘You Can Never Tell,’ ‘Man and Superman’ and ‘Major Barbara.’
